Tape perforator



Deg. 2, 1969 J, D. HAYS ETAL TA'PE PERFORATOR Filed Aug. 24, 1967 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

INVENTORS JOHN D. HAYS a ROBERT a. VA? BY z THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,481,535 TAPE PERFORATOR John D. Hays, Troy, Ohio, and Robert E. Vance, lfortland, Ind., assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Aug. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 663,159

Int. Cl. G06k 1/05; B26d 7/26; B261? 1 /04 US. Cl. 234-108 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A high-speed tape perforator which includes a plurality of punch pins, each actuated by a solenoid-operated interposer member. Each punch pin is engaged by one end of a leaf spring which will return the punch pin to its home position after actuation of the punch pin by the interposer. The leaf springs are initially biased in a punch direction by adjustable screw members which engage the interposer members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a high-speed tape perforator and more particularly to a mechanism for returning the punch pins to their home position. Prior devices of this type have power-operated means for returning the punch pins to their home position. An example of that type of perforator is shown in United States Patent No. 3,144,988, issued Aug. 18, 1964, on the application of David A. Schulman. With that type of construction, whenever a power failure occurs after the punch pins have been moved to a punch position, spurious results will occur if the next punching operation is initiated without the punch pins being returned to their home position. Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a tape perforator having a return mechanism for the punch elements which will function under all operating conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A mechanism for returning the punch elements of a high-speed tape perforator to a home position after a punch operation, including a spring member engaging each of the punch elements, said spring members being initially biased in a punch direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side detailed view of a tape perforator utilizing the present invention, showing the spring members in a biased position.

FIGURE 2 is a partial detailed top view of a tape perforator shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detailed right side view of a tape perforator shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a detailed top view of the spring members utilized in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a front view of the tape perforator, which includes a plurality of support members 20, 21, each secured to a top frame 22 by means of screws 23. Mounted on each of the support members 20, 21 are a number of solenoids 25. Five pairs of solenoids (FIGURE 2) are mounted on the sup port member 20, while four pairs of solenoids are mounted on the support member 21. Associated with each pair of solenoids is an interposer arm 26, supported on a stud 27 mounted in each of the support members 20, 21. Engaging one end of each interposer arm 26 is a punch pin 28, slidably mounted in a guide .block 30,

ice

which is secured to a punching die block 31. The die block 31 is mounted to a side frame 32 (FIGURE 3). A sprocket tape drive 33 is rotatably mounted adjacent the punching die block 31 to pull the tape through a slot 34 located in the die block 31.

Mounted adjacent to the punch pins 28 and secured to the side frame 32 is a spring holder 35, in which is mounted one end of a plurality of springs 36 (FIGURE 4). The free end of each spring 36 engages a slot portion 37 of one of the punch pins 28. As shown in FIGURE 4, there is one spring for each punch pin.

Secured to the top and side frames 22, 32 by means of screws 38 are a pair of guide blocks 40 (FIGURE 3), in which are mounted a plurality of adjusting screws 41. Each adjusting screw 41 engages the top portion of an interposer arm 26. Prior to a punch operation, each adjusting screw 41 is positioned so as to move one end of the interposer arm 26 and its associated punch pin 28 in a downward direction. This downward movement of the punch pin will tension its associated spring 36 due to the engagement of the middle portion of the spring with an abutment portion 42 of the spring holder 35. This arrangement is shown in FIGURE 1.

During a subsequent punching operation, upon the energization of the appropriate solenoids 25, the selected interposer arm will be rocked to move its associated punch pin 28 downwardly, thereby punching a hole in the tape located in the punching die block 31. This downward movement of the punch pin will further tension the associated spring 36. Upon deenergization of the solenoids 25, the spring 36 will move the punch pin 28 to its home position. The pre-tensioning of the springs 36 by the adjusting screws 41 will absorb the energy of the spring 36 during the return movement of the punch pin to its home position. Thus any rebound tendency of the punch pin is eliminated. This is very critical in the high-speed operation of the perforator, when punching operations of 250 per second occur. The pre-tensioning of. the spring 36 also conditions the spring 36 to operate at such high operational speeds.

It will be seen from this construction that, once the punch pins have been actuated to punch a hole in the tape, the pins will be returned to their home position regardless of a power failure or any'other operational failure in the system.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of this invention as applied to be preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a high-speed tape perforator, the combination including (a) a punch member mounted for reciprocal movement between a punch position and a non-punch position;

(b) a resilient member engaging said punch member and normally urging said punch member towards the non-punch position;

(c) an actuating member engaging said punch member and adapted to move said punch member to a punch position when actuated;

(d) electromagnetic means mounted adjacent said actuating member and adapted to actuate said actuating member when energized;

(e) and adjustable means engaging said actuating member to move said member a predetermined distance in a punch direction, thereby pre-tension- 3 4 ing said resilient member whereby upon the deenpunch direction, thereby pre-tensioning said cantilever erzization of said electromagnetic means said resilient spring. member moves said punch member to its non-punch References Cited 'posifion- UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. The tape perforator of claim 1 in which said re- 5 silient member comprises a cantilever spring rigidly 2,857,968 10/1958 Cousmo 234119 X mounted at one end and having its other end engaging 3,018,037 1/1962 f' 234-119 said punch member intermediate its ends. i l lh 1 ware a 3 T e tape perforator of c arm 2 in W 1ch said actu 3,411,709 11/1968 Musterson 234-115 ating member comprises a lever member, one end of 10 which engages the top portion of the punch member, WILLIAM S LAWSON Primary Examiner and said adjustable means comprises a screw-type member engaging the top portion of said lever member and ad- U S C1, X, R, justable to move said lever and punch members in a 83-132, 134 

